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Girl power

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The irresistible allure of a Girl in a book title.

We’re all familiar with The Girl from Ipanema, Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl and The Beach Boys’ Surfer Girl. In 1965 The Temptations had a number-one hit singing about My Girl, in 1983 Cindi Lauper hit the airwaves with soon-to-be feminist anthem Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and in 1987 Madonna topped the Billboard charts with Who’s That Girl. There’s no denying the allure of a Girl in a song, and books are no different. Here are some titles that have captured the attentions of millions of readers wanting to know more about the Girl at the centre of the action.